Doctor Uses Motivational Interviewing to Discuss Alcohol Use

Summary

In this script, a doctor employs motivational interviewing to discuss a young woman's alcohol consumption, highlighting the risks of alcohol exposure during pregnancy. The conversation explores the patient's typical drinking habits and her openness to considering low-risk drinking guidelines. The doctor identifies the patient's current alcohol use as excessive and gently encourages her to reflect on the benefits of reducing consumption, leading to a willingness to revisit the topic and possibly set up a follow-up appointment.

Takeaways

• 🚑 The doctor uses a motivational interviewing approach to discuss the young woman's alcohol use, which is a sensitive topic.
• 📈 There is evidence that discussing alcohol use with patients can lead to them considering and potentially changing their drinking habits.
• 🤰 The conversation is particularly important for young women to reduce the risk of an alcohol-exposed pregnancy.
• 🍺 The young woman admits to heavy drinking during a pub crawl, which resulted in her spraining her ankle.
• 👠 She mentions wearing stilettos and jumping off a bus, which contributed to her injury.
• 🎉 The script highlights that heavy drinking is considered normal among university students, which might normalize risky behavior.
• 🍻 The young woman describes her typical alcohol consumption, which includes seven or eight drinks when going out and a few beers after a long day.
• 🤔 She expresses uncertainty about whether her drinking habits are a concern, indicating a lack of awareness about the risks.
• 📉 The doctor introduces the concept of low-risk drinking guidelines and safe limits, which the young woman is willing to consider.
• 🔄 The young woman acknowledges that she might be drinking above the recommended limits and shows some concern about her tolerance level.
• 💡 She recognizes the benefits of reducing alcohol consumption, such as feeling more productive without a hangover.
• 🗓️ The doctor suggests setting up an appointment to further explore reducing alcohol use, which the young woman agrees to, indicating a willingness to change.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the doctor's conversation with Anna in the video?

The main purpose of the conversation is to address Anna's alcohol use in a non-judgmental way, with a focus on the potential risks associated with alcohol consumption, especially regarding the possibility of an alcohol-exposed pregnancy.

What is motivational interviewing, and how is it used in this context?

Motivational interviewing is a counseling method that helps people resolve their uncertainties to find the internal motivation they need to change their behavior. In this context, the doctor uses this approach to discuss Anna's alcohol use and encourage her to consider reducing her consumption.

Why is it important to discuss alcohol use with young women, especially regarding pregnancy?

It is important because research shows that women who drink at risky levels before pregnancy are more likely to continue during pregnancy, which can lead to alcohol-exposed pregnancies and associated health risks for the baby.

What was the situation that led to Anna's sprained ankle?

Anna sprained her ankle after a night of pub crawling, where she had several drinks and, wearing stilettos, jumped off the stairs of a bus to catch up with her friends.

How does Anna describe her typical alcohol consumption during weekends?

Anna describes it as quite high, stating she can drink around seven or eight drinks when she goes out hard, which is typical for her during weekends.

What is Anna's initial reaction to the doctor's suggestion to explore her alcohol use?

Anna is initially open to the idea, agreeing to discuss her alcohol use as long as they don't focus too much on a specific type of drink, indicating she is still feeling the effects of the previous night.

What does the doctor suggest as the safe limit for alcohol consumption for women?

The doctor suggests that the safe limit for women is 10 drinks per week, which averages to about two drinks per day.

How does Anna feel about the suggested safe drinking limits?

Anna is surprised by the low number, stating that it seems like not a lot for her and that her tolerance has built up over the years, indicating she usually drinks more than the recommended amount.

What are some of the concerns Anna has about her alcohol use?

Anna expresses concerns about feeling unwell after heavy drinking and acknowledges that she feels more productive without a hangover, indicating she recognizes some negative impacts of her alcohol consumption.

What is Anna's willingness to discuss her alcohol use further with the doctor?

Anna is willing to explore her alcohol use further with the doctor, agreeing to come back for an appointment when she is feeling better and not hungover.

What is the potential benefit of reducing alcohol consumption that Anna acknowledges?

Anna acknowledges that she feels more productive when she doesn't have a hangover, indicating that reducing her alcohol consumption could have positive effects on her daily functioning and well-being.

Outlines

00:00

🍻 Doctor's Motivational Interview on Alcohol Use

In this paragraph, a doctor engages with a young woman named Anna about her alcohol consumption using a motivational interviewing approach. The conversation begins with the doctor addressing Anna's sprained ankle, which she injured during a pub crawl. Anna admits to drinking heavily and not feeling well. The doctor then raises the topic of alcohol use, discussing the risks associated with alcohol exposure during pregnancy and the benefits of low-risk drinking. Anna acknowledges her typical alcohol consumption, which is significantly higher than the recommended limits, and expresses some concern about her drinking habits. The doctor suggests exploring these issues further at a later appointment, emphasizing the importance of discussing alcohol use in a non-judgmental manner to encourage healthier choices.

05:02

📅 Scheduling a Follow-Up Discussion on Alcohol Use

The second paragraph continues the conversation between the doctor and Anna, focusing on scheduling a follow-up appointment to further discuss Anna's alcohol use. The doctor highlights the potential benefits of reducing alcohol consumption, such as increased productivity and fewer hangovers. Anna shows willingness to explore reducing her alcohol intake within safe limits and agrees to a follow-up meeting, with the understanding that it should not be on a Saturday morning. The paragraph concludes with the doctor emphasizing the importance of discussing alcohol use with women in a non-judgmental way to prevent alcohol-exposed pregnancies, and a musical note indicating the end of the segment.

Keywords

💡Motivational Interviewing

Motivational Interviewing is a counseling method that helps individuals explore and resolve their ambivalence about behavior change. In the video, the doctor uses this approach to delicately raise the topic of the young woman's alcohol use, aiming to motivate her to consider reducing her drinking habits without imposing judgment.

💡Alcohol Use

Alcohol use refers to the consumption of alcoholic beverages. The video script discusses the young woman's alcohol consumption, particularly during a pub crawl, and its consequences, such as her sprained ankle and the potential risk of an alcohol-exposed pregnancy.

💡Low-Risk Drinking

Low-risk drinking denotes the consumption of alcohol within guidelines that minimize the risk of harm to health. The script mentions low-risk drinking guidelines, which suggest a limit of 10 drinks per week for women, as a safer alternative to the young woman's current drinking habits.

💡Alcohol-Exposed Pregnancy

An alcohol-exposed pregnancy is one in which the mother consumes alcohol during pregnancy, which can lead to health risks for the baby. The video emphasizes the importance of addressing drinking habits to prevent such pregnancies and promote healthier outcomes for future babies.

💡Pub Crawl

A pub crawl is a social activity where participants visit multiple pubs or bars in a single night. In the script, the young woman's participation in a 90s-themed pub crawl is highlighted as an event that led to her alcohol consumption and subsequent sprained ankle.

💡Stiletto

Stilettos are a type of high-heeled shoe with a thin, tall heel. The script describes the young woman wearing stilettos during the pub crawl, which contributed to her fall and injury, illustrating the potential dangers of wearing such footwear while intoxicated.

💡University Students

The term refers to individuals attending a university for higher education. The script uses the young woman's status as a university student to contextualize her social drinking habits, suggesting that it is a common behavior among her peers.

💡Coping Mechanism

A coping mechanism is a strategy used to manage stress or difficult emotions. In the video, the young woman uses alcohol as a way to cope with stress, particularly during midterms, indicating a potential unhealthy reliance on drinking.

💡Tolerance

Tolerance refers to the reduced response to a substance, such as alcohol, after repeated exposure. The script mentions that the young woman has built up a tolerance to alcohol over the years, which raises concerns about her drinking habits and health risks.

💡Productivity

Productivity refers to the efficiency of an individual's work or the rate at which they accomplish tasks. The doctor in the script points out that the young woman feels more productive when not experiencing a hangover, suggesting that reducing alcohol consumption could improve her daily functioning.

💡Appointment

An appointment is a scheduled meeting or visit. The script concludes with the doctor offering to set up an appointment for the young woman to further discuss her alcohol use, indicating a continued commitment to support her in making healthier choices.

Highlights

Doctor uses motivational interviewing to discuss young woman's alcohol use

Evidence shows discussing low-risk drinking can lead to behavior change

Addressing drinking habits early can prevent alcohol-exposed pregnancies

Young woman sprained ankle after pub crawl and excessive drinking

Patient admits to drinking heavily during weekends and sometimes after school

Patient initially not concerned about alcohol use, considering it normal for university students

Doctor introduces low-risk drinking guidelines for women

Patient realizes she exceeds recommended alcohol limits

Patient acknowledges using alcohol as a coping mechanism for stress

Doctor points out potential health risks of excessive drinking

Patient starts to recognize the benefits of reducing alcohol consumption

Patient agrees to further discuss reducing alcohol use in a follow-up appointment

Importance of non-judgmental conversations about alcohol use with women

Encouraging women to reduce or stop drinking before or during pregnancy to prevent alcohol-exposed pregnancies

Motivational interviewing approach can be effective in addressing alcohol use

Patient's openness to change after recognizing negative impacts of alcohol

Setting up a follow-up appointment to explore reducing alcohol use further

Transcripts

in this video a doctor uses a

motivational interviewing approach to

raise the topic of a young woman's

alcohol use there is evidence that when

a doctor asks about alcohol use and

talks about low-risk drinking patients

consider their drinking and some will

make a change with young women in

particular this conversation can lead to

reducing the risk of an alcohol exposed

pregnancy research confirms that women

who drink at a risky level before

pregnancy are more likely to continue

drinking during pregnancy addressing

their drinking habits early can result

in healthier future babies so Anna we

determined that you sprained your ankle

yesterday and I'm wondering if you can

tell me a little bit about how that

happened that's really stupid I was at a

pub crawl last night and you know how

girls are you have a few drinks and then

I thought it was a really good idea to

catch up with my friends who were yeah

they were in front of me so I just like

jumped off the stairs of the bus and I

was wearing these like stilettos because

it was a 90s theme pub crawl anyway and

I just like fell on my ankle I was

really embarrassed I was like a wild

night yeah yeah but I didn't do Danny

dancing after that no I guess that that

would be the end of your shakin and

movin I know I wonder if you'd be open

to exploring your alcohol use and what

that looks like during the week sure as

long as we don't talk too much about

like vodka X I'm still yeah you're still

feeling the effects yeah wow it was

really rough night it's normal so what

is a typical week for you as far as your

alcohol use well I mean my friends kind

of we party on the weekend and you know

we're all University students and

it's just normal to have a few drinks so

a few drinks is nothing new to you no

and what does a few drinks look like is

that per night is it two drinks huh per

night like if we go out that's a lot

it's like I can drink probably like

seven or eight drinks like if I'm going

hard and then you know like maybe when I

get home from school a long day at the

library have a beer or two so alright do

you have any concerns at all about your

alcohol yes well I don't know it's

normal for university students I feel

okay so at this point you're not too

concerned didn't you think that you know

this is what the other students are

doing you know would you be open to kind

of looking at the low risk drinking

alcohol guidelines yeah sure I don't

know how you're feeling right now but

I'm just wondering if we can take it

just a quick glass of this and what the

safe limits are for women is 10 drinks

for women a week with about two drinks

per day oh really

yeah Wow where do you feel you're all

into that uh I'd say I'm a little over

that okay okay

especially with midterms coming up okay

so it's kind of a way to cope through

stress yeah all right and is that

something that has been you know a way

of coping for a while yeah yeah I guess

okay

does that concern you at all um I mean

the ten drinks seems like not a lot for

like for me and like my tolerance

I guess I've kind of built it up over

the years so that's a little a little

bit concerning I guess to me do you feel

like you have any reasons to kind of

bring your alcohol use down within the

limits uh any reason to uh I guess

health

health reasons tell me more about that

um well I mean clearly I don't feel good

right now

and it's I definitely feel more

productive when I don't have a hangover

so see a benefit so you can see some

advantages to reducing the amount of

drinking yeah that you consume during

the week yeah is this something you'd be

willing to explore with me a little

further at another time maybe when

you're feeling a little bit better this

is something you'd be willing to come

back and talk to me yeah yeah I think

when I'm feeling a little a little

bitter maybe when I haven't gone all out

then the night before and sprained my

ankle I'd love to set up an appointment

for you if you can come in later this

week or early next week to kind of

explore this a little bit further and

maybe some of those advantages of

reducing into the safe limits is that

something that we could do sure yeah

just not on a Saturday morning that's

okay with me okay thank you yeah good

talking with all women about their

alcohol use in a non-judgmental way is

more likely to result in a decision to

reduce or stop drinking before or during

pregnancy this can prevent an alcohol

exposed pregnancy

[Music]

you